Monday, September 3, 2012

Why Marriage Equality

Got a Lawyer? If you are gay and living with your significant other in states that do not allow gay marriage, you're going to need one.

A gay or lesbian couple need to have specific wills made or a house, car, precious possessions can go to the family rather than the partner.  If you do not specify that your partner will be the one making medical decisions in case of your inability to do so, someone else (even a distant relative) could make them for you. If you have not listed your partner as next of kin, they might not be able to visit you in the hospital or make your funeral arrangements.

If you are gay, your partner will not get the pension or 401K you put money into all of your life.  Your partner is not eligible for survivors benefits for social security.  Your partner can not collect on any government pension thanks to the Republicans and DOMA.

You may be able to serve in the military if you are gay, but your partner is not eligible for any of the military spousal benefits.

If you are gay, you are basically a second class citizen.  We should have NO second class citizens in the United States of America. The constitution guarantees rights to everyone.  Marriage is a civil contract that is made by obtaining a license and having the ceremony be administered by a civil official. It is not a religious issue.

In recent years the Christian Right have fought to impose their ideas on the rest of us despite the constitution. Don't let them get away with this. Write to your local state assemblies and senates. Write to your governors. Write to your congressman and senator, write to the president.  Do not deny a group of Americans the same rights given to everyone else.

A gay couple should not have to have a lawyer to enforce basic living issues that the rest of us take for granted.

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